H.S. baseball: Shawn Ziem has vision for Paterson Charter

By Darren Cooper

The Record

Coach building base for winning program

DARREN COOPER

High School Sports Columnist

The wins haven’t come yet for the Paterson Charter baseball team, but the fans certainly have.

"Everyone in the school comes to the games when we are home," said Lions coach Shawn Ziem. "When I was in high school I never played in front of crowds that big, but for my guys it’s almost like playing in Yankee Stadium, they are so loud and cheering, but I want them to cheer for a win."

This is the first year of varsity baseball for the Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology (PCSST). The school is housed on the site of what was Paterson Catholic and is just making its initial forays into varsity competition.

Ziem’s squad is 0-5 with a game against Academy Charter scheduled for today. Ziem is optimistic today his team will finish with a victory, but he really is measuring progress in small bits.

"We are made up of kids who are playing baseball for the first year," said Ziem. "This is stuff you would see in elementary school, how to throw, and how to catch, but they have been developing."

Of course, there have been some speed bumps. Baseball can be an entertaining game to watch, but the nuances of the game aren’t evident. It takes time to develop the proper feel for the sport.

The first day of varsity practice, Ziem was thrilled to see 35 kids out for the team. But he was dismayed to see only two wearing baseball caps and more than a handful wearing shorts. Only one had a cup.

A few days later the boys all were wearing similar attire, long pants, caps and protective wear.

Ziem has only two seniors, so the focus is on youth and player development. Even his pitchers are starting from scratch, none has learned to throw a change-up yet.

The Lions’ closest game this season was against North Arlington, a 5-3 loss, but they have been beaten by Hoboken, 12-0, and Leonia, 15-0. Ziem has been telling the boys that even though baseball is a game of failure not to give up.

"We talk about it, we are going to lose," said Ziem. "This is a sport where you are going to make out probably seven out of 10 times, so we have to learn how to deal with that situation. I teach [physical education] and once kids get a little down, they quit a lot of times.

"My guys are still fighting. We have to get that first win though, that will help them get over the barrier about losing all the time."

Junior Yordani Nicasio is the Lions’ best hitter so far, but sophomore Joankel Hernandez has given the team a boost at the plate since returning from a trip, and sophomore Anthony Rodriguez has played in the outfield and at shortstop.

"We are seeing an improvement and the kids have a lot of pride in the school," said Ziem. "I always tell my guys that I am trying to make them into men. We are using baseball to teach the skills to make them better individuals."

Last year, the school fielded a JV program that went 4-14 under Ziem. The 37-year old played at Wayne Valley and for a year and a half in college. He also coached sub-varsity baseball and football at Jefferson.

As the charter school began to get its footing — it now is in its 11th year, it expanded its athletic offerings. Next year, the Lions will be full members of the NJIC.

"I think that will give us more stability," said Ziem. "More consistency as far as playing similar teams and programs. Right now, we are all over the place, but I want us to play great teams to make ourselves better. Playing weaker teams might help us build confidence, but it doesn’t make us the type of team I want to have in the future."

And the future is on Ziem’s mind. He said he is committed to this program for the long haul and is talking about starting a summer program to keep the kids learning the sport and progressing.

With its location in Paterson and proximity to the surrounding area, there certainly is talent that can be unearthed. The fans already are there.

"They say it takes four years for a program to get going," said Ziem. "But I think in two to three years we can be phenomenal."

H.S. baseball: Shawn Ziem has vision for Paterson Charter

The wins haven’t come yet for the Paterson Charter baseball team, but the fans certainly have.

"Everyone in the school comes to the games when we are home," said Lions coach Shawn Ziem. "When I was in high school I never played in front of crowds that big, but for my guys it’s almost like playing in Yankee Stadium, they are so loud and cheering, but I want them to cheer for a win."

This is the first year of varsity baseball for the Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology (PCSST). The school is housed on the site of what was Paterson Catholic and is just making its initial forays into varsity competition.

Ziem’s squad is 0-5 with a game against Academy Charter scheduled for today. Ziem is optimistic today his team will finish with a victory, but he really is measuring progress in small bits.

"We are made up of kids who are playing baseball for the first year," said Ziem. "This is stuff you would see in elementary school, how to throw, and how to catch, but they have been developing."

Of course, there have been some speed bumps. Baseball can be an entertaining game to watch, but the nuances of the game aren’t evident. It takes time to develop the proper feel for the sport.

The first day of varsity practice, Ziem was thrilled to see 35 kids out for the team. But he was dismayed to see only two wearing baseball caps and more than a handful wearing shorts. Only one had a cup.

A few days later the boys all were wearing similar attire, long pants, caps and protective wear.

Ziem has only two seniors, so the focus is on youth and player development. Even his pitchers are starting from scratch, none has learned to throw a change-up yet.

The Lions’ closest game this season was against North Arlington, a 5-3 loss, but they have been beaten by Hoboken, 12-0, and Leonia, 15-0. Ziem has been telling the boys that even though baseball is a game of failure not to give up.

"We talk about it, we are going to lose," said Ziem. "This is a sport where you are going to make out probably seven out of 10 times, so we have to learn how to deal with that situation. I teach [physical education] and once kids get a little down, they quit a lot of times.

"My guys are still fighting. We have to get that first win though, that will help them get over the barrier about losing all the time."

Junior Yordani Nicasio is the Lions’ best hitter so far, but sophomore Joankel Hernandez has given the team a boost at the plate since returning from a trip, and sophomore Anthony Rodriguez has played in the outfield and at shortstop.

"We are seeing an improvement and the kids have a lot of pride in the school," said Ziem. "I always tell my guys that I am trying to make them into men. We are using baseball to teach the skills to make them better individuals."

Last year, the school fielded a JV program that went 4-14 under Ziem. The 37-year old played at Wayne Valley and for a year and a half in college. He also coached sub-varsity baseball and football at Jefferson.

As the charter school began to get its footing — it now is in its 11th year, it expanded its athletic offerings. Next year, the Lions will be full members of the NJIC.

"I think that will give us more stability," said Ziem. "More consistency as far as playing similar teams and programs. Right now, we are all over the place, but I want us to play great teams to make ourselves better. Playing weaker teams might help us build confidence, but it doesn’t make us the type of team I want to have in the future."

And the future is on Ziem’s mind. He said he is committed to this program for the long haul and is talking about starting a summer program to keep the kids learning the sport and progressing.